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Teacher Management

How to Invest In Teacher Training For Your Learning Centre?

As a school business owner, you probably must have thought about the need to send your teachers for training. However, most learning center owners keep asking whether it is necessary to offer training to their teachers with company resources.

Well, while it might appear that you are spending your company’s limited resources on your staff, there are benefits associated with having skilled professionals in your institution. Sending your teachers for training will not only retain them but also attract some of the best teachers to your business.

In this article, we shall cover everything you need to know about teacher training in Malaysia and address some common concerns you should note while undertaking this process.

Benefits of Teacher Training

Sending teaching staff for training offers numerous benefits. Below are some of its benefits:

1. Enhancing Teaching Quality and Student Experience

Training programs provide teachers with the opportunity to learn about the latest teaching methodologies and advancements in their subject areas. This will improve teaching quality and offer a more effective learning environment for students. Teachers can gain insights into innovative ways of delivering content, engaging students, and assessing their progress, thus positively affecting your centre’s reputation.

2. Meeting Diverse Student Needs

In today’s educational environment, classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse in terms of student backgrounds, learning styles, and abilities. Training equips teachers with strategies to cater to the diverse needs of their students. This includes techniques for differentiating instruction, accommodating special learning requirements, and promoting inclusivity. A well-trained teaching staff can create an environment where all students feel valued and supported, leading to better learning outcomes and a more positive educational experience for everyone.

3. Boosting Teacher Job Satisfaction & Talent Retention

Providing opportunities for professional development through training demonstrates an investment in the growth and career progression of teaching staff. This, in turn, enhances teacher job satisfaction, as educators feel valued and empowered to improve their skills. When teachers are satisfied with their jobs and feel supported by their employers, they are more likely to remain committed to their roles and the learning centre. This helps in retaining experienced and dedicated staff, reducing turnover rates, and maintaining a stable educational environment.

Apart from these 3 key reasons to train your teaching staff, another good thing about teacher’s training is that it helps prevent burnout by introducing teachers to stress management techniques and strategies for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Addressing Common Concerns

While teacher training is good for the overall growth of a learning centre, there are some concerns you need to address to get the best out of the exercise.

1. Balancing Costs and Returns

One common concern regarding teacher training is the perceived cost and the potential return on investment. Learning centres may worry about the financial implications of sending their teaching staff for training. To address this concern, it’s essential to emphasize the long-term benefits that quality training can bring. Improved teaching quality, enhanced student outcomes, and higher teacher retention rates can outweigh the initial costs.

Exploring cost-effective training options, such as online courses and workshops, partnering with local educational institutions, or utilizing government-funded programs can also help reduce financial concerns while still delivering valuable professional development.

2. Integrating Training Into Busy Schedule

Teachers often have demanding schedules with classroom responsibilities and other duties. Finding time for training can be challenging. To address this, training programs can offer flexible formats, such as online courses or weekend workshops. Providing training during school breaks, after school hours, or even through short, focused workshops can make it more feasible for teachers to participate without significantly disrupting their regular responsibilities.

3. Measuring Training Effectiveness

Concerns may arise about how to measure the effectiveness of teacher training and whether the acquired skills will translate into real improvements in the classroom. To tackle this concern, learning centres can establish clear goals and expectations for training outcomes. Pre- and post-training assessments can help gauge the impact of the training on teacher knowledge and skills. Additionally, soliciting feedback from teachers and students after implementation can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the training and areas for further improvement.

Types Of In-Service Teacher Training Programs In Malaysia

In Malaysia, different in-service teacher training programs are available to enhance the skills and competencies of educators at various stages of their careers. These programs address different aspects of teaching and learning, catering to the diverse needs of teachers and the evolving educational landscape.

1. Postgraduate Teacher Training Programs

Postgraduate programs offer advanced training and specialization for teachers looking to deepen their knowledge and expertise. These programs often lead to master’s or doctoral degrees in education, curriculum development, leadership, or subject-specific fields. They enable teachers to engage in in-depth research, critical analysis, and the development of innovative teaching strategies.

2. In-Service Teacher Training Programs

a) Teacher Induction Program: Designed for novice teachers, induction programs provide a structured introduction to the teaching profession. These programs focus on classroom management techniques, curriculum understanding, school policies, and teaching methodologies. The aim is to equip new teachers with the essential skills to navigate their early teaching experiences successfully.

b) Professional Development Workshops: These workshops cater to experienced teachers seeking continuous improvement. They cover a wide range of topics such as technology integration, assessment strategies, classroom innovation, and student engagement. Professional development workshops encourage a collaborative learning environment where teachers can share best practices and adapt them to their classrooms.

c) Pedagogical Courses: These courses concentrate on refining teaching methodologies and strategies. They include areas like differentiated instruction, active learning, problem-based learning, and student-centered approaches. Pedagogical courses empower teachers to create dynamic and effective learning experiences for their students.

3. Specialized Training Programs

a) Special Education Training: Aimed at teachers working with students with special needs, this training equips educators with the knowledge and skills to provide inclusive education. Teachers learn about individualized education plans (IEPs), assistive technologies, behaviour management, and adapting curriculum content to diverse learning styles.

b) Montessori Training: Montessori training programs focus on the principles and practices of the Montessori education approach. Teachers learn about creating child-centered environments, hands-on learning materials, and fostering independence and self-directed learning in students.

c) Cambridge International Diploma in Teaching and Learning: This program is designed to enhance the expertise of educators in delivering Cambridge International curriculum. It covers curriculum planning, assessment strategies, and effective teaching methods aligned with international educational standards

4. Others

a) Leadership and Management Training: Leadership and management training for teachers focuses on developing the skills necessary to effectively lead and manage classrooms. This training equips teachers with strategies for effective communication, conflict resolution, decision-making, and team collaboration.

b) Online Teacher Training: Online teacher training is designed to help educators adapt their teaching methods to the digital realm. It covers topics such as online pedagogy, technology integration, virtual classroom management, and designing engaging digital content. Teachers learn to effectively use various online tools and platforms to deliver lessons, interact with students, assess learning, and provide timely feedback. This training is particularly relevant in the era of remote and hybrid learning, enabling teachers to excel in virtual teaching environments.

c) Blended Learning Courses: Blended learning courses combine traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning components. Teachers undergoing blended learning courses learn how to design and implement lessons that seamlessly integrate in-person interactions with online resources. This approach promotes personalized learning, as students can access materials and resources at their own pace while still benefiting from valuable in-person interactions with teachers and peers during physical class sessions. This training equips teachers to create dynamic and flexible learning experiences that cater to a diverse range of learning styles.

The diverse range of in-service teacher training programs in Malaysia caters to teachers at various career stages and with different professional goals. These programs contribute to the continuous improvement of teaching practices, promote innovative pedagogies, and ultimately enhance the quality of education in the country.

Conclusion

Investing in your teaching staff has tons of benefits. Apart from improving your teacher’s quality of life and career development, it also helps to improve the overall quality of education your learning centre provides.

In addition to investing in your teaching staff, employing a school management system in your education business can make your business run smoothly and stress-free.

School Management System

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Teacher Management

Simple Tips to Cut Down Teacher Turnover at Your Learning Centre

The future of any country rests on the quality of education students receive from various learning centers. The teaching profession is crucial to Malaysian society as it helps groom young people to become whatever they desire.

Unfortunately, most learning centers in Malaysia are struggling to retain their teachers. So far, the rate of teacher turnover in Malaysia has been on the increase as each year passes by. As an education center owner, below are some crucial reasons why you should maintain a good teacher retention rate in your learning center:

  • There are teacher shortages in Malaysia. Finding replacements would be daunting if you lacked the strategies to retain your teachers.
  • The cost of recruiting and training new teachers is high. You can redirect such funds to improve class management and other areas.
  • Studies show that high teacher turnover rates in learning centers negatively affect the performance of students in general.

Therefore, to reduce the rate of teacher turnover in Malaysia, we need to address the root causes of the problem. The key factor in teacher turnover in schools is STRESS. When teachers face a heavy workload, it gradually leads to increased stress, prompting them to seek alternative options for a better replacement. Thankfully, EdTech companies such as AOneSchools have created management software to take some burden off teachers.

5 Key Strategies for Improving Teacher Retention

As the owner of a learning center, if you must maintain or improve teacher retention rates, there are strategies you need to employ. These strategies have been proven to be effective. Implement the five strategies below in your education center, and your teachers will feel fulfilled and satisfied with their jobs.

1. Creating a Positive Work Environment

Studies show that a poor work environment can reduce employees’ morale and commitment. If a teacher is not happy with his or her work environment, the resultant effect would be to look for another workplace with a better work environment.

having excellent facilities in your learning center is a positive aspect, it has been discovered that most teachers prioritize the school culture over facilities. Teachers desire a work environment that respects and trusts them while providing a high level of job security.

Also, giving teachers more freedom in class management activities makes them feel more appreciated and valued. Doing these little things can improve job satisfaction rates and, subsequently, reduce teacher turnover.

2. Providing Professional Development Opportunities

Everyone wants to learn, including teachers! One of the mistakes most education business owners make is believing that teachers are only meant to teach students. To make teachers feel like you have a long-term plan for them, enroll them in some sort of professional development training that will make them better at their jobs. Fortunately, most of these professional development opportunities are not expensive and can be done online.

Apart from development training, another key factor that boosts teacher retention is collaboration. Teachers should collaborate so that no one feels isolated; isolation is a strong reason for a teacher to leave his or her job.

Teacher Training in Malaysia

3. Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits

No matter how passionate a teacher feels about his job, he needs to be well compensated. If a teacher feels he is not getting the benefits of his hard work, he may decide to look for better alternatives. Therefore, according to your capacity as an education business owner, you should offer competitive compensation and salaries to your teachers.

Nevertheless, while it is true that competitive compensation can help teacher retention, education business owners shouldn’t go overboard. Owning an education center is a business, and you must strike a balance to remain afloat in your business.

4. Recognizing and Appreciating Teachers’ Efforts

Everyone wants to be appreciated for doing something outstanding. Showing appreciation to your staff means you value their contribution to the growth of your business. At the end of each academic calendar, organize events to recognize and appreciate your teachers. 

It shouldn’t cost that much to wrap some gifts for your staff after each session. Teachers are less likely to leave a learning center where their efforts and achievements are appreciated.

Note: If you must do individual recognition, ensure that you do it so that it won’t cause tension among the teachers.

Thank You Teacher

5. Streamlining Administrative Tasks

Technology has made it easy for learning centers to use school management and class management software to simplify their tasks. As an education business owner, you want to employ the right software to improve efficiency and save your staff time. 

Tasks such as class schedule and attendance, parent-teacher communication, fee payment, and other messy manual paperwork can all be automated to save your valuable time. Teachers are proud to work in a place where the latest technologies are used to simplify work-related tasks. 

Fortunately, education software companies in Malaysia, such as AOneSchools, are ready to implement the right technologies to streamline your administrative tasks.

With the increasing shortage of teachers in Malaysia, schools need to take action to mitigate teacher turnover. Creating a better work environment, providing development training for your teachers, offering competitive compensation, and recognizing teachers’ efforts are the simplest but key ways to improve teacher retention in Malaysia.

Boost Your Teacher Retention Rate with AOneSchool

Finally, implementing effective school management systems can go a long way toward improving teacher retention. Sometimes an excellent teacher becomes demotivated because of the time-consuming tasks that every teacher has to do. However, we can prevent that from happening!
AOneSchool eases teachers’ workload on taking attendance, sending student reports, creating teaching summaries, and sending class reminders to parents. On top of that, the communication between teacher and parents are all transparent and traceable.

Make the job for your teachers a bit easier and let them do what they are best at—teaching. AOneSchools has helped hundreds of learning centers in Malaysia streamline administrative tasks. Implement these strategies in your school business and see the teacher retention rate increase.

School Management System

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Teacher Management

11 Easy Tips to Attract and Hire Quality Educators in Malaysia

There is no such thing as a good educational centre without professional and good educators. Still, attracting and retaining the best employees is often easier said than done.

But, there is no reason to lose hope. We’ve prepared a list of tips to attract and hire quality educators in Malaysia, that will set you on the right track.

Why Does Your Educational Centre Need the Best Educators?

Simply put, the quality of your learning centre will depend on the quality of your teachers.

Educational centres must hire highly professional teachers. Their main role is to provide education, be positive role models, and help students achieve success. Teachers are a crucial component in the learning process and have a significant impact on their students’ lives.

The academic success of students as well as the reputation of the learning centre are directly determined by effective teachers who deliver high-quality instruction, create a positive learning environment, build strong relationships with students, and exhibit professionalism and accountability—i.e., quality educators.

How to Attract the Best Candidates?

Even though it’s true that the employer is the one who chooses their team members, the opposite is also true—candidates choose their employers. So, you must ensure that candidates find you tempting and worthy of their time.

Your learning centre needs to attract the best candidates because these candidates will become your high-quality teachers, which will impact the value of your centre.

It’s never easy to find the best teachers, especially when there’s a shortage on the market, as there is right now. 

Still, we have some tips and tricks for you to make attracting outstanding teachers much easier!

1. Experiment with Different Channels

There are many different ways you can show your educational centre to the candidates. And the best practice is to try them all and combine what works best for you.

  • Job fairs. Even though some people find them old-fashioned, the results tell us the opposite. Job fairs are great because in a short time you can access an enormous pool of talent. On top of that, that is a great opportunity to increase brand awareness and represent your learning centre in the best light.
  • Social media. People engage with businesses through social media channels even when they are not looking for a job. If you manage to develop a bond between your brand and your audience, people will have feelings of trust in your learning centre and be more attracted to work for you instead of your competition.
  • Job boards. Like job fairs, job boards are great because you can reach a large audience. Moreover, job boards are accessible non-stop which means you can search for educators anytime, and they can apply whenever. According to similarweb, Indeed is the most popular job search website. Still, there are many other options, like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Monster, Ricebowl, Hiredly, JobStreet, and others.
  • Employee referral program. Would you recommend to your coworkers something that isn’t really good? No one would! That’s why employee referrals are a fantastic strategy to try when looking for educators. You can be sure that your current employees won’t recommend someone who isn’t trustworthy. On top of that, this process is really effective because your existing team members will explain to potential employees what it looks like to work in your centre. If you hire someone recommended by your current educators and that person is a good fit—you reward the person who made the referral. Knowing they will get a reward if they help you find a new team member will motivate them even more to really recommend someone who is amazing. It’s a win-win situation!
  • New graduates. What is better than young and educated people looking for their first job? Many employers in the past underestimated young people without experience and made a big mistake. Maybe you will need a bit more time to help them at the beginning, but you will have motivated and educated young team members who will be more than happy to gain experience, learn, and develop. You can think about offering internships or creating an event at their university to represent your learning centre.

2. Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits

Salary is one of the most crucial things job seekers are looking for. You must make sure to thoroughly research the ongoing rates for educators in Malaysia and that you’re offering competitive compensation. But, that’s not the end.

You also must offer a good package of benefits to your educators. Make sure to find something that’s really valuable for them and that will make you stand out as an employer.

Important note: Don’t forget to research and update the teacher’s salary and benefits benchmark regularly. You need to be well-informed and follow changes in the market to ensure you’re offering the best conditions to your educators.

3. Build a Strong Employer Brand

As we already mentioned in the section about social media channels—good employer branding can be extremely powerful when it comes to attracting the best candidates. 

A strong employer brand will differentiate your education centre from competitors, attract top talent who shares your values, and increase employee engagement and retention. By creating a positive and attractive image of your company, you can also establish a reputation as an employer of choice, making it easier to attract and retain the best talent in your industry.

What Should You Look for When Hiring Teachers?

And here are some tips you should keep in mind while hiring teachers for your learning centre.

1. Soft Skills

Soft skills are what make the difference between a good teacher and an amazing teacher. And we want an amazing teacher, right?

Essential soft skills for educators

You should look for these soft skills in your candidates:

  • Communication inside and outside of the classroom. We’re looking for a person who can communicate properly not only with students but also with other team members in the centre and students’ parents.
  • Patience. Patience and calmness in a learning centre are as important as formal education. You should look for a teacher who knows how to handle stressful situations and remain calm.
  • Motivation. Teaching requires a lot of energy, and the only way someone will do an amazing job is if they are enthusiastic and motivated. You probably won’t have a problem seeing a sparkle in your candidate’s eyes when they’re talking about teaching.

2. Conduct a Background and Reference Check

Being an educator in any learning centre is such an important role with much responsibility, and you must ensure that your teachers are honest and truly qualified.

First and foremost, you need to get consent from your candidate to contact their previous employers.

Important note: Never ever contact a current employer of your candidate—they may not know that person is looking for a new job, and you can create an awkward situation for everyone!

You can also get help from many reference check software programs, which will make your job a little easier.

3. Evaluate Your Candidate’s Skills

An interview is the best way to see who your candidate is and if he or she is a good fit for your learning centre. Make sure to use this time to evaluate their knowledge and skills.

Pro tip: If you want to see your candidate’s organisational abilities, you can give them an assignment related to class management. By doing so, you can see how they’re thinking and solving problems in situations that aren’t familiar. For example, you can give them an assignment to prepare a lesson plan or to stimulate common work scenarios.

There is one more thing you can do.

Help Your Teachers Be Even More Efficient with AOneSchool

Sometimes an excellent teacher becomes a bit demotivated because of the many time-consuming tasks that every teacher has.

But we can prevent that from happening!

Your learning centre can use AOneSchool, a learning management software, and your teachers won’t have to waste time creating reports and sending reminders to parents every month. 

On top of that, AOneSchool will ease teachers’ workload with in-sync real-time updates from the school anywhere and anytime and better and easier communication that is traceable.

Make the job for your teachers a bit easier and let them do what they are best at—teaching.

Contact us, and we will help your learning centre thrive!